If you are looking for the best teacher interview tips, questions with possible answers, you are in the right place! Maybe you just landed your first official teacher interview… Or if you are like me, you are heading back out to look for new teaching/education opportunities and need a teacher interview refresher.

Whatever the case, be not afraid! I will share with you the most reoccurring teaching interview questions, with possible answers as well as tips that will assist you in getting the teaching job you always dreamed of.

Teacher Interview Tips 101

The most important thing is to prepare for your interview. As a teacher, that’s one thing we are good at: planning and preparing. Overall, life in general is a lot easier when it’s planned and prepared.

A couple of weeks ago, I had my first teaching interview after 7 years of teaching experience. It was a walk in the park compared to when I first received my teaching certification.

I was more confident speaking about my experiences and what I believed as an educator. This was because I was more prepared with having actual classroom experiences vs. when I didn’t have any classroom experience at all. But what you will find out is that it is all about telling a story.

Teacher Interview Background

My first round of trying to find a secondary English teaching position was in 2010. It was difficult. I went on 5 interviews that were highly competitive.

At the time, I wasn’t prepared to tell my story. That fall I didn’t get a classroom position but secured a long term subbing position for a few months. I went on to tutor and substitute teach for the rest of the 2010-2011 school year.

The next school year (2011-2012) was much of the same thing. I interviewed relentlessly. I tried to prepare this time but I ended up too nervous and would fumble my words.

Although I knew I could do the job, I knew the interview panel could not see it. That fall I still did not secure a teaching position and decided to try something a little outside the box.

That winter, I decided to try out for Teach for America. Since I was a new teacher, I felt this might be a good way for me to get into a classroom I can call my own.

I filled out all the forms and turned in my recommendations. I got called back and made it to the final round of in-person interviews. And then, I was still denied.

It was time to do something different.

I made the decision to go back to school and obtain a special education endorsement. I thought the educational training and the strong need for special education teachers would make me more marketable as an English teacher.

That spring I hit the ground running looking for teaching positions. I started looking for jobs as early as March and branching out at least 2 hours away from the town I lived in.

Next, I started planning how I was going to respond. I typed up a list of possible questions with my responses. I began rehearsing the typed list repeatedly until I got it down pat.

After only 2 interviews that summer, I accepted a position to teach 7th-grade English Language Arts! All my planning and rehearsing paid off!

Tips for Success with your Teacher Interview

1. Get a “teacher outfit.”

I wore the same khaki-colored wide-legged slacks and a light blue button-down shirt to every interview when I while looking for a teaching job. It was casual and looked like spring. I would avoid wearing black because I wanted to give off the impression that I was happy inside and out.

2. Look for part-time teaching positions.

I know, I know…right out of college you need a full-time position to make up for not getting paid for student teaching. But a part-time position gets you the experience and your foot into a school district that might have an opening next fall. Also, student enrollment fluctuates, you could easily be bumped up to full-time next school year in the building you were hired at.

3. Bring a lesson plan

A lesson plan that you can deliver well and that had great feedback with your prior students. Most places will tell you prior to the interview that you are teaching a lesson, but giving them a visual can be helpful if you are not required to teach the lesson…most importantly it will be helpful for you too.

4. Make Copies

Don’t assume that everyone will have a copy already, bring copies, of your resume, lesson plan, and anything you want to highlight for at least 10 people. I have been interviewed by large groups up to 10 and in as little as 8. As well as sat in on interview panels of the same size. It’s better to have enough than not enough.

If you are virtually interviewing, make sure you have files open and ready to share if necessary.

5. Have 1-3 questions ready.

Make sure you don’t dominate with questions but be sure to ask about the district, building, or demographics and try to tie the question to you personally. For example, I ask about the culture of the students because I come from a multicultural background and feel I can connect with students on that level.

Also most districts want to know if you have or will coach sports, advise clubs and sit on committees so make sure you seem available even if you are not.

Bonus Teacher Interview Tips

Do your homework

Research the district and the building that you are interviewing for. Know what you are getting into ahead of time. Check the staff directory to review the names and pictures of staff members. View the pictures on the school’s website or anything that will give you a feel that you are a part of the team and that you can possibly bring up during the interview to tie into your interview answers.

Know your craft!

A friend told me she sat in on an interview panel for a math teaching position. They gave the potential teacher a math problem to teach to the interview panel as if they were students. The math teacher ended up teaching them the incorrect answer! Yikes!

Virtual Teacher Interview in 2020

In July 2020, I interviewed for a new teaching position through Zoom. I decided I wanted to transition out of Special Education and get back to General Education.

While I know it may not have been the best of time to start interviewing I knew it would be an experience. The best advice I can give is to look like you are interviewing in person. Dress professionally, comb/brush your hair, smile, and really show a personality that the interview panel can almost feel through a webcam.

One great tip…send a virtual thank you letter by email to the panel. This can give the extra push you might need to sway the decision in your favor!

back to school toolkit

Common Teacher Interview Questions & Answers

1. Tell me about yourself?

This is a question in which you will get in every single interview, teaching or not. But this is the question to sell yourself right out the gate. Go all out and don’t hold back.

If you freeze up on other questions, this one you will not only know for sure but could win you the interview and can assist you in answering the next interview questions.

Rehearse a short biography of yourself that you can tell time and time again.

Start with where you are from, where you went to college, if you are married or have kids, add something personal (like maybe you’re planning a vacation, or maybe your shopping for a house pending the outcome of the interview) and then name what you like to do for fun or a hobby you enjoy.

Finally, even though they should know your teaching history add it in the bio as well, and finish off with what you hope to be doing in 5 years, maybe you would like to get an advance degree.

2. Why did you become a teacher?

This question can be answered in question #1 so it is a simple transition to lead off where you ended off. But tell your journey. Maybe you wanted to be a teacher since 3rd grade, maybe it was a career change, or maybe you decided it fit the lifestyle that you were heading to.

For example, I tell the story about never wanting to be a teacher but when I told people I majored in English, they just expected it. Then I got a job substitute teaching and knew this is what I wanted to do.

You want to create a picture in their mind because it could be something they can relate to. Remember, it’s your personal story on what lead you do the profession and everyone in the room is connected to in some way. So be honest and turn yourself into a storyteller.

3. What can you contribute to our district/school?

The best way to answer this question is to take your top 3 strengths in the classroom and with working with students. Then discuss how you can apply those strengths in teaching others how to use them as strategies.

For example, if your greatest strength is working with behavior students you can contribute strategies that have worked for you in relation to behavior students. Remember, think of a personal story of working with a particular student.

4. Give an example of collaborations you have done in your most recent teaching experience?

This is another question that can also apply to a previous question as well. The panel wants to know about the strategies you have applied and shared with your colleagues.

Think about PLC (professional learning community) team meetings, and if you needed a question answered how you went about getting it answered.

Also, I would add in professional development because they want to know what have you learned that you can assist in helping others learn. The interview panel ultimately would like to know that you are continuing to learn, to keep improving your craft and allow support when needed. This shows you are a team player.

5. How will you incorporate technology into your teaching?

You may have a lesson plan that has some form of technology incorporated in it. Use that lesson plan. It is something you know that you created it. If you need some more ideas on technology check out this post I made that would be ideal to answer this question.

If you need more online strategies and resources, you can name one from this list in your response as well.

Other potential teacher interview questions:

Final Tips and Thoughts

Most of the interview questions are relatable, so practice and craft out a strategy for one question that can really answer multiple questions in various ways.

Always use personal and/or professional examples. If you have a difficult time in the interview process, take a year to substitute teach. These tips can easily apply for a substitute teaching interview too! Substitute teaching gave me a year’s worth of strategies and examples, as well as hands on classroom management skills that I was able to share during my interviews. Also check out my YouTube Channel for more teaching tips!

Please share your interview tips or question below to help an aspiring teacher or a teacher making a change.